UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 30 July 2008 --The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE) has found its work increasingly hindered by the Eritrean government, leading the Security Council to decide today to put an end to the initiative.

Back in February, UNEE had to dismantle its operation in Eritrea, including relocating its staff, as a result of the government there halting UN access to fuel. As a result, the mission was unable to continue its work within Eritrea. The Security Council spoke out regarding the impossibility of UNEE achieving its mandate with the obstacles back in May and the situation has shown no sign of improvement.

Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Jean-Marie Guéhenno made clear to the press two months ago that in regard to UNEE, “now we are reaching the end of what peacekeeping can achieve” and peacekeeping cannot work without the dedication of the countries involved to the initiative, something the UN mission did not have.

Ban Ki-Moon said today that “[t]he Council has taken this decision after both parties rejected options for a possible follow-on presence put before them by the Secretary-General at the request of the Security Council.”

Azouz Ennifar, Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Ethiopia/Eritrea, spoke about the commitment and effort of UNMEE’s personnel and said that “[t]he Mission was sent at the request of both countries to keep the peace after a two-year war (1998-2000) claimed at least 70,000 Ethiopian and Eritrean lives. It was a difficult mission in geographically harsh locations, but the men and women who served with UNMEE did not flinch.”

The responsibilities of Ethiopia and Eritrea prescribed by the Algiers Agreement, signed in 2000 at the conclusion of the fighting between the two, are not affected by the termination of UNMEE. The Security Council made clear that they must “comply fully with their obligations under the Algiers Agreements, show maximum restraint and refrain from any threat or use of force against each other, while avoiding provocative military activities.”

UNMEE will conclude its initiatives tomorrow and its staff will officially start to leave Asmara and Addis Ababas at midnight Thursday. The civilian personnel numbers around 130 civilians in Ethiopia and 250 in Eritrea. Approximately 320 soldiers will stay in Ethiopia but will probably depart at the conclusion of August.

However, the UN will continue to discuss stationing UN personnel in Ethiopia and Eritrea as part of an international effort to prevent renewed violence in the region. The Secretary-General has been asked by the Security Council to pursue this.

He expressed a desire to see both countries “break the current stalemate and create conditions necessary for the normalization of their relations, which is key to peace and stability in the region” and pledged to carry on UN cooperation with Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The options presented to the parties were a small military observer mission in Ethiopia, a small political and military liaison office in Ethiopia , or a Special Envoy of the Secretary-General based in New York, as noted by Mr. Ban in a letter to the Council that was made public today.

 - Caroline Patton

Labels: United Nations, U.N., MaximsNews

 

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